RÉSERVE DE LA COMTESSE

The 2016 Reserve de Comtesse de Lalande is a blend of 37% Merlot, 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, with a modest alcohol level of 13.1% and a pH of 3.71. It has a tightly wound bouquet that perhaps needed more coaxing than some of its peers, but it was worth persisting, as it unveils some lovely cedar-infused black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin on the entry, moderate depth, a light marine influence upon the black fruit with a little creaminess on the finish. This is a fine Reserve de Comtesse that is on par with the excellent 2015 last year. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Polished and pleasurable. Not a single angle in evidence. What a wonderful wine this would be for an airline first class! But note relatively short drinking period. Drinking range: 2020 - 2027 Rating: 17- Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2017)

Solid, featuring a juicy, fleshy core of cassis and plum fruit, backed by a well-embedded iron edge. The sleek, pure, driven finish extends nicely, with a lingering savory echo. Rating: 90-93 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2017)

A dense and powerful second wine from PL with layers of fruit and ripe, silky tannins. Shows tension and verve as well as polish. Excellent. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2017)

An incredibly luscious, gorgeously balanced and rich Réserve de la Comtesse. They picked right up until the light October rain, waiting until it had passed before continuing. Those extra few days have contributed to the particularly soft and silky quality of the tannins in the Cabernet Sauvignon, which have a gorgeous density to them. This is a serious wine that could stand up against many Médoc grand vins. The blend here is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Drinking range: 2027 - 2050 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Réserve de la Comtesse is a serious second wine. Dark, ample and voluptuous, the Comtesse will give readers a very good idea of the style and quality of the vintage, namely the interplay of fruit, aromatic freshness and tannin that makes this vintage so compelling. Inky dark and purplish fruit, chocolate, licorice and lavender are some of the notes that infuse the huge finish. Silky, polished tannins add to the wine's considerable appeal. Don't miss it. Rating: 90-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

“2016 was stressful, but I’d love to have it every year,” says Stéphanie Danglade. I’m sure she would, because this is an excellent second wine from Pichon Lalande, with leafy, graphite aromas, velvety tannins, a core of crunchy blackcurrant fruit and subtle vanilla spice. A wine that will age seamlessly. Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 93 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Réserve de la Comtesse has a delightful bouquet of black fruit infused with sous-bois and pencil shavings – classic Claret through and through. The medium-bodied palate delivers crunchy black fruit laced with tobacco and cedar. This is a correct, quite “linear” wine, but one that I find well balanced, with a welcome pepperiness that emerges toward the grippy finish. It might not warrant superlatives, but it is clearly well crafted and endowed with understated nobility. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2021 - 2040 Rating: 92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Dec 1899)